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[sub]Interactions: [@Jinxer] • [@Sol Grim] • [@Lord Zee] • [@Raylah][/sub]

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It felt so good to be near her again. Her heart was slowly picking up the pace. The beautiful fiery red hair - oh how she adored it! And that pale skin that was so familiar to her - now looking even paler, concerning her - looked so inviting, she desired to let her fingertips move over the soft skin on her cheeks tenderly.

The hand beneath hers moved and with a grip stopped the motions of Eve's fingers. Her heart jumped and then relaxed. She softly squeezed her friend's hand. How glad she was that the woman was awake and seeming to do alright.

[color=f9ad81]“You’re not to blame at all, Eve”[/color], the Levonian warrior spoke. Her words hit Evangeline harder than she would admit. Her heart sunk a little as guilt poured over her once more, the heavy crown of responsibility invisibly resting on her head, reminder of just how much she was to blame. From a friendship point of view Laurel was right, she was not to blame. From a royalty point of view on the other hand she would have had to forbid Laurel from leaving her side during the festival. If she had just insisted on her personal guard, Laurel would have never gotten injured from such unnecessary cruelty. She felt responsible for her. Overwhelmed by those thoughts she couldn't bring herself to more than a shake of head.

[color=f9ad81]“I gave my name out without thinking and this is the consequence of that. At least I can still carry out my duties. None of this is your fault, we both have things expected of us here”[/color], she continued. Evangeline knew Laurel was trying to make her feel better, but she found it hard to accept that she had nothing to do with her friend's decision. Not only had she been irresponsible and naive enough to let her personal guard leave her side for such a long time, but the tournament had been rigged from the very beginning. The need to inform her friend about her discovery arose, but she had to postpone that to a time of day when they would have more privacy. Who was to say that Luthra warrior wouldn't wake up and eavesdrop on them?

Just as she had these thoughts another man entered through the door, interrupting their conversation. Tall and with an authority that filled the whole room. Undoubtedly the Father of Luthra, Evangeline recognized. She adjusted her posture to a more royal one, straight back, chin held high slightly. She did not want him to suspect anything other than a princess checking on her wounded guard, feeling that she had to protect Laurel from him, she moved away from her friend a few inches, turning her body towards him and pretending to be interested in his sudden appearance.

Evangeline spotted a hesitation in his movements, it was not more than a split second, but her gaze caught it and she made a note of it. He had not expected company. Something about his presence made Eve feel unsettled. While she did not let it show, she was alarmed and ready to pull out her throwing knives from under her gown should she have to. Her mind had already calculated all the ways in which she could use her environment to her advantage. Parcours was one of her strengths and so was using her environment in a sudden fight.

She kept her eyes on him as he hovered over his warrior. There was no worry in his eyes and surely no pride. If anything, it was cold despise. Without a doubt he had come to punish the warrior for his behavior in the tournament, for going against his own men, for saving the Earthica woman on the battlefield. Strangely enough Evangeline didn't care. And frankly she had expected him to show some faked respect towards her and greet her with a swift few words, but he had simply ignored each one's presence in the room, the first words coming from his mouth being meant for the injured man beneath his gaze. [color=brown]"What a pity."[/color]

To Evangeline's shock Laurel turned out to be the one to intend conversation. She sat up, causing Eve to instinctively reach her hand to her back in support - and quickly withdrawing it as she realized what she was doing. Evangeline's eyes wandered over her friend's face for a short second and she saw the need in her expression to fulfill her duty, to protect her princess. So Eve was glad when she did not jump up on her feet, ready to throw herself in front of her, but she chose words instead.

To say the least, she was very surprised - and even more so alarmed! - by the intention of those words. Her conclusion seemed to be of similar nature as Evangeline's, but other than Evangeline Laurel did seem to care. [color=f9ad81]“You should be grateful to him, you know.”[/color] She was obviously at a loss of energy, still unable to sound as fierce and demanding as she was usually able to, still looking so unhealthily pale. [color=f9ad81]”Your other warriors apparently forgot the rule about not aiming for the head. Luckily he stopped them before they could break the rules and cause an incident.”[/color] She pointed to her own head wound. [color=f9ad81]“Now it’s just the Exodus lot who’ve broken their own rules and you’re in the clear. To me it looks like judgement has already been rendered but not enough to demand uncomfortable questions.”[/color] Her great and rather foolish attempt to talk some sense into the Father alarmed Evangeline. Did she not know how dangerous her words could be? Did she not know that she could possibly do more harm than good? And why even did she feel the need to defend the man? Did she feel like she was in his debt? Did she think she owed him something? [color=f9ad81]”I’d like to thank him, once he wakes up, even if his attention was misguided.”[/color]

To her surprise Laurel then dared to ask her to fetch a servant for her. It was innocent and it was not a big deal between them, but it was something much else in front of a stranger, a politically strong enemy. Her father would have had her whipped for treating Evangeline like that. Of course not because he cared for his daughter's image, but because he cared for the image of the kingdom in general. And a personal guard speaking to her princess like that was not accaptable in front of Luthra's biggest scum, the Father. [i]'Or would you not, father? I hardly ever know your intentions, you so rarely speak to me.'[/i] Eve gave her friend a soft, but distant smile. [color=82ca9d][b]"In a moment"[/b][/color], she whispered.

Just then a scream came from the sleeping Thanatos man as he shot up to a sitting position in his bed. He took a second to notice Eve and Laurel at the bed beside him, but he quickly caught himself. His first words, beside his awakening scream, going directly to Laurel, no greeting to the princess. [color=steelblue]"You just had to see me again..."[/color] Disgust formed in Evangeline's stomach. [i]'Men are real scum'[/i], she thought to herself. A little fire began to dance in the pit of her stomach and not the good kind. She felt anger, yes possibly even hatred towards the man. Those seven words had ensured him of the princess' disliking of him, to say it kindly. Eve suppressed the need to grit her teeth as her jealousy rose together with the fire in her stomach.

He then attempted to approach the princess. But Evangeline had had enough of him already. [color=steelblue]"My lady, you should be proud of your fighters.  I feel sorry for whomever stands across the battlefield from them.  Who won, by the way?  Eh, doesn't much matter, what's say the lot of us head back over to that fancy garden bar, eh?  We could..."[/color] He stopped as his eyes met with the tall figure of the Father standing on the other side.

Eve's chin tilted upwards a tad bit more, as she looked at him sternly. She would not leave his comment go by unanswered. [color=82ca9d][b] "I am not [i]your lady[/i]. The proper approach is [i]Princess[/i] Evangeline of Earthica. As for my warrior, she is the best and I never had a doubt in her. Your men fight unfairly, but I do not put any blame on them. You need to heavily outnumber a so much stronger opponent in a battle, I am aware."[/b][/color] She did not mention them striking at her head, breaking a core rule of the tournament.

Eve could not be sure if he had heard her after spotting his leader in the room or if he was just choosing to be disrespectful, but the man would ask of her to thank the healer for him, calling her [i]my lady[/i] once more. She shortly considered if he had been talking to Laurel instead of her, but that only made her anger worse. She would rather him being disrespectful to her than calling Laurel his [i]lady[/i].

The Father and the Luthra warrior then took some privacy to talk. Eve did not let it show on her face, but she hated these Luthra people. They did not seem to have any manners. [i]'And that coming from me means something.'[/i]

With no chance or even interest of overhearing their conversation, Eve used the chance to turn back to Laurel. [color=82ca9d][b]"That was reckless of you"[/b][/color], she scolded her, meaning her attempt to change the heart of the Father in order to save the Luthra warrior. [color=82ca9d][b]"You have no reason to -"[/b][/color]

But before she could say any more, the two men had finished their private conversation. Evangeline wished for nothing more than for both of them to disappear. She would insist on Laurel getting a private room, she should not be sharing it with anyone, let alone a Luthra attempting to be a womanizer. And the thought of the Father possibly returning to the room without Eve present unsettled her massively.

The Father shot a look towards Evangeline and said his first words directly towards her - [color=brown]"Princess."[/color] - and she responded just as cold and uninterested, [color=82ca9d][b]"Father."[/b][/color] He left. One down, one more to go until she could speak freely with Laurel and not as her princess.

Yet another scream pierced through the room and Evangeline shot around. The previously sleeping Thyrri had awaken in a state of fear, her mind clearly trying to grasp reality and let go of the nightmare she must have had. Her expression spoke of horror before she captured herself.

The Exodus healer confirmed Eve's thoughts lead by an apology, her voice trembling as she looked at Eve. [color=fff200][b]“I’m sorry I disturbed you. Just had a bad dream.”[/b][/color] If they had been alone Evangeline would have went over to comfort her. She wanted to let her know it was alright, tell her she'd be safe now. But she could not dare such a move with others present. [i]'But there we have the difference between men and women'[/i], she thought. [i]'Addressing the highest ranked person in the room first, even apologizing to me without having to. Very much unlike the men, who had all not seen me as worthy enough of their respect.'[/i]

Her mind traveled back to their first meeting, how quickly it had gotten intimate with the kind healer helping her into this terribly uncomfortable dress and even lending her the shoes she was wearing right now. [i]'Women are so much purer.'[/i]

Thyrri snapped out of her shaky state quickly, tending to the injured man and scolding him for getting out of bed. Evangeline didn't think he was worthy of her attention or skills. Her sudden mention of him moving to a new room made Evangeline appreciate her even more. 

[b][color=fff200]“And you,”[/color][/b] she turned to Laurel, [b][color=fff200]“I suppose you will want to stay near the princess? You should be fine provided you rest a lot and make no sudden movements, not even talking about running or jumping or similar endeavors. And of course, no alcohol.”[/color][/b] The smile that formed on her lips enlightened Eve's heart and she had to smile as well. The princess lowered her gaze for a moment, fearing she would only blush if she looked at that smile of Thyrri for longer, the crazy situation they had shared replaying in her mind over and over again. 

[color=82ca9d][b]"Thank you"[/b][/color], she finally spoke. [color=82ca9d][b]"For taking such good care of my warrior. I would have not put her wellbeing into any other healer's hand."[/b][/color] Eve turned to Laurel, her hand swiftly moving a red strand of hair out of her own face before looking at the other woman seriously. [color=82ca9d][b]"And you"[/b][/color], her voice was harsh, yet caring. [color=82ca9d][b]"Don't you even think of going against the healer's words. That is an official order. Do you understand me?"[/b][/color]


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